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The campus of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) bursts with jubilation as the graduates of batch 18 gather to celebrate a momentous occasion. On Tuesday (May 30), the university commemorated its 35th convocation, an event filled with joy and festivity.
The presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, IUT Chancellor and Secretary General of the OIC Hissein Brahim Taha, and Vice-Chancellor M. Rafiqul Islam added grandeur to the proceedings.
Additionally, nine distinguished members from the university's governing body, representing nine different countries, graced the ceremony. This year, a total of 550 students proudly received their convocation from IUT, marking an important milestone in their educational journey.
The Islamic University of Technology (IUT) operates under the auspices of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and was initially established in 1978 in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Originally known as the International Center for Technical and Vocational Training and Research (ICPVTR), it primarily served as a vocational training and research center. However, over time, it transformed into an engineering university and was officially renamed as the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) in 2001. The university now offers a number of programmes such as BSc in Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical and Production Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, BBA in Technology Management, BSc in Technical Education, and Diploma in Technical Education. Every year host county students have to go through a competitive admission test to get into this university.
With a view to making this convocation ceremony a success, the university staff members and faculty members put in a lot of effort. The ceremony was inaugurated at 11 in the morning. In her speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the Muslim world to unite in advancing science and technology to bring back the former glory and golden age of Islam. She expressed concern about the underwhelming contribution of Muslim scientists in the current era.
The writer spoke with some of the graduates to learn about their experiences. Mohd Abu Bakar Siddique, who received the prestigious OIC Gold Medal for scoring the highest among all the students of the respective batch, stated, "Right now, I can't put my thoughts into words. It's like living in a dream. Back when I was a candidate for admission, I thought IUT would be a better choice for me, as it takes only three years and 10 months to graduate from IUT. I hoped for a decent CGPA. Little did I know that one day I would receive the OIC gold medal for achieving the highest CGPA among all the students of the 18th batch. Alhamdulillah. I also want to thank my parents, teachers, mentors, helpful seniors, and batchmates for their valuable advice and support."
Another young mind with extraordinary achievements Wasifa Rahman voiced, "IUT has provided me with a wealth of opportunities for growth on both a personal and professional level. Students and teachers work together to create a friendly atmosphere where people really support one another's academic and personal development."
Sumit Hasan, a well-known student of the campus who successfully represented IUT on many local and global stages, remarked, "It feels surreal to graduate. These four and a half years haven't been easy. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have experienced the highs, lows, and everything during my IUT days. But the most important skill I've learnt is not any technical skill, but the ability to take on challenges head-on. I have been lucky enough to land a job at an MNC even before my graduation and I intend on pursuing that for now. I don't know what the future has in store for me but I'm super excited to get going."
After a day of festivities, the curtains dropped in the evening, complete with all the formalities. The young grads are now looking forward to moving on with their lives, saying goodbye to the campus and the fellows they shared the campus life with.